|
Opinion
End
the petty bickering, do what’s best for state
June
8, 2005
The
only thing constant is change ….. even when it takes 11
years.
David Wilkins, R-Greenville, has been speaker of the
S. C. House of Representatives for all that time. Now, though,
that’s changing, and the Palmetto State will have new
leadership to guide us into the future via the influence of a
new speaker.
That, of course, will be Rep. Bobby Harrell,
R-Charleston, who has been chosen by his peers to succeed
Wilkins, who is to be U. S. ambassador to Canada.
For
purely selfish reasons, folks around Greenwood would have
preferred Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Richland, as the new speaker.
Harrison, a Greenwood native, withdrew when it became obvious
he didn’t have the votes to win.
HARRISON,
THOUGH, WOULD have been a very good speaker. He’s
demonstrated, as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, that
he’s a leader and can get things done. He has, in fact, all
the qualifications needed for the post.
That doesn’t mean,
of course, that Harrell doesn’t have the qualifications and
ability. He does. He’s proved that without question during his
service in the House ….. especially as chairman of the Ways
and Means Committee.
However, Harrell will, as speaker, be
one of the top three government leaders who come from
Charleston, and that could be a concern for some. The others,
of course, are Governor Mark Sanford and Senate President Pro
Tempore Glenn McConnell. The question is, will all sections of
the state get the same attention. Also, will the testy
relationship between Harrell and Sanford improve and
facilitate the work of the people?
Harrell says yes, and he
also says he will treat all sections of the state
fairly.
REP. DOUG JENNINGS,
D-Marlboro, who also wanted to be speaker, sees no problem.
“Bobby is a good enough leader to know he has to be sensitive
to other geographic areas, especially since we re-elect a new
speaker in, what is it, 18 months?”
Harrell said after his
win that “This is about everyone in the House working together
– both political parties, all races – to improve South
Carolina.”
There has been so much divisiveness in recent
times, some downright meanspirited, that the public is fed up
with the petty partisanship. Not partisanship. Petty
partisanship. If Harrell, McConnell and Sanford can help put
an end to it, and get other lawmakers to join the effort, the
people will be served well.
We can only hope. Politics is
politics and statesmanship is not always part of the equation.
Editorial expression in this feature represents
our own views.
Opinions are limited to this page.
| | |
|
|
| | |
|
|
